The World Health Organization has said it does not have the “full picture” from Russia following the suspected death from plague last week of a 28-year-old laboratory worker in Siberia.
asserted
it → say → Siberia
Darya Shipilova died two days after falling ill with cold-like symptoms.
asserted
Shipilova → die → symptoms
She was an employee at the anti-plague research institute in the eastern city of Irkutsk, with some reports suggesting she was infected after a workplace accident.
asserted
she → suggest → accident
The Russian authorities have denied a connection with the institute and say Shipilova died from “pneumonia of an unknown aetiology”.
asserted
Shipilova → deny → aetiology
They insist there is no danger of a plague outbreak and have described the “sanitary and epidemiological” situation in the region as stable.
asserted
They → insist → region
At the same time, officials have imposed sweeping quarantine restrictions at the lab where Shipilova worked and in nearby hospitals.
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Shipilova → impose → hospitals
Staff were locked down inside the institute for three days, sleeping on the floors and on chairs, while tests were conducted.
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tests → lock → chairs
On Wednesday the WHO director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said: “We don’t yet have the full picture of this event and we’re not able to conduct a full risk assessment.
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we → say → assessment
“Timely, complete and transparent information sharing is essential to clarify conflicting reports and enable an accurate assessment of potential public risks.”
asserted
sharing → clarify → risks
Tedros said he also wanted more clarification from the Russian government following unconfirmed media reports of “a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause”.
uncertain
he → say → cause
“We assess any reporting from the community,” he said.
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he → assess → community
“We asked Russia to respond to that.
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We → ask → that
We’re waiting for an answer.”
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We → wait → answer
The WHO’s director of epidemic and pandemic management, Maria Van Kerkhove, said the agency still did not know how Shipilova became infected in the first place – and with what viral disease.
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Shipilova → say → place
If pneumonic plague was ruled out, “what did she actually die from?” Kerkhove asked.
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Kerkhove → rule → what
In an interview with local media, Shipilova’s 64-year-old mother, Svetlana, discounted the theory that her daughter had been infected after smashing a test tube.
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daughter → discount → tube
“I know the truth.
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I → know → truth
I’m fending off stupid friends who believe this.
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who → fend → this
A test tube is unbreakable, even if you throw it against the wall,” she said.
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she → throw → wall
She described her daughter as a dedicated worker and “pure person” devoted to her job.
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She → describe → job
Former classmates are also sceptical she was infected at her workplace.
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she → infect → workplace
One reportedly said: “They’ve smeared a woman without properly investigating.
uncertain
They → say → woman
Knowing how hardworking and responsible she was, it just doesn’t add up for me.”
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it → know → me
The Kremlin has sought to downplay the incident and has brushed aside an offer of assistance made earlier this week by Donald Trump, the US president.
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Kremlin → seek → Trump
The White House has pressed Moscow for more details of the case, while stressing the risk to the US is very low.
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risk → press → US
On Tuesday Trump said he would speak about the plague issue “very soon” with Vladimir Putin, who celebrated his 74th birthday on Wednesday.
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who → say → Wednesday
The Kremlin said no call had been arranged but could be quickly organised.
uncertain
call → say → ?
According to the Baikal Medical Journal, health officials in Irkutsk have taken extensive measures to stop a potential outbreak from spreading.
uncertain
officials → accord → outbreak
Neighbours said workers in white protective suits and gas masks disinfected the two-storey brick building where Shipilova lived several times after her death last Friday.
asserted
Shipilova → say → death
“The smell was unbearable and very pungent,” a woman in her 40s said.
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woman → say → 40s
“A woman knocked on our door.
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woman → knock → door
I said: ‘What are you treating here?’
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you → say → What
I already knew about the plague rumours.
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I → know → rumours
She said: ‘It’s for cockroaches.’
asserted
It → say → cockroaches
But we don’t even have any cockroaches in our building.
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we → have → building
I saw her packing her overalls into a bag.
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her → see → bag
I was like, ‘Well, I get it.’”
asserted
I → get → it
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